The well-attended public meeting called 'Poru Garjana' at the Pavilion grounds in Khammam on Thursday, has brought forth a new player that has strong left leanings, into the Telangana movement. K Chandrasekhar Rao's Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), which has been struggling for its own survival in some districts where it has very little presence, too was keen on extending a helping hand to CPI (ML) New Democracy, the new entrant.

The CPI (ML) New Democracy has made known its intentions loud and clear at the massive public meeting. The party managers succeeded in driving home the message that "it's not TRS alone, but New Democracy is here to champion the T-cause and take the movement forward among the four crore people of the region," much to the delight of Telangana protagonists at the Poru Garjana. KCR, who was expected to heli-hop to the garjana venue dropped out due to viral fever. Harish Rao and K Tarakarama Rao couldn't attend as they were caught in the traffic. However, TRS MLA Etela Rajender and T-JAC convener Kodandaram shared the dais with New Democracy leaders.

In spite of riding high in the wake of the success of Sakala Janula Samme and RTC employees' strike, TRS was left playing a second fiddle to New Democracy, which has sizeable presence in Khammam and other Andhra districts, at the Khammam 'Poru Garjana'. Knowing well that the T-agitation is going to be a long haul and that the Centre would not grant the separate state in the immediate future, TRS bucked the trend by trying to forge a friendship with New Democracy.

Analysts say, this could herald a new alignment of T-forces. This bonding is mutually beneficial to both TRS and New Democracy. But one thing TRS should always remember that it was the New Democracy that turned the pitch of the T-movement to 'Red' during 'Millennium March' on March 10, 2011 by vandalising the statues of Telugu dignitaries on the Tank Bund. Telangana protagonists, at all given opportunities, are not missing to emphasise that the T-movement is devoid of violence. With the dominant 'Red' in, the pale 'Pink' may get over-shadowed, aver the analysts.